- Encoders
- Safety encoder
Encoders for reliable positioning and safety
Whether in municipal vehicles, in AGVs in intralogistics, or in AMRs for heavy-duty use in mines or harbours: Wherever vehicles or superstructures are moved or steered automatically, the safety of the surroundings and the vehicle itself must be guaranteed at all times. This is where the TÜV-certified safety encoder comes in:
- It detects rotation and rotational speed, ensuring precise control and monitoring of moving elements.
- It derives steering, turning or tilting angles as well as current height positions, ensuring efficient vehicle control.
- The ‘preset on the fly’ function ensures continuous position synchronisation for flexible adjustment during operation and maximum safety.
The safety encoder in detail
Product benefits of the safety encoder
Functional safety
The safety encoder is specially designed for safety-critical applications and provides reliable and accurate feedback information critical to safe control and monitoring of mobile applications. The SIL and TÜV certifications confirm compliance with highest safety standards.
Simultaneous position and speed information
The safety encoder transmits precise position and speed values. These are crucial for precise navigation and exact positioning in mobile applications and autonomous vehicles.
Robustness and reliability
Thanks to its robust design, the safety encoder can withstand adverse environmental conditions in mobile applications such as strong vibration, temperature changes, moisture and dust in accordance with IP69K.
Easy integration
The device features a standardised CANopen interface and configurable device profiles, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and easy set-up within your application.
Redundancy for increased safety
The safety encoder meets the redundant diverse design safety requirements. Cross-comparison between the microcontrollers ensures continuous monitoring of the position values, providing utmost safety.
Cost efficiency
By integrating this safety encoder, you can significantly reduce:
- complexity of construction planning
- installation effort
- programming effort
- engineering effort
- wiring and documentation
In addition, the use of battery-free and innovative encoder technology enables virtually maintenance-free and durable operation.
Efficient data processing with the ifm mode
The ‘ifm mode’ is an optional function that differs from the CiA standard. In this mode, the encoder provides pre-defined position and speed values. No intermediate calculation steps through subprograms are required. In addition, the ‘active safe state’ in ifm mode displays the ‘safe state’ bit and can be reset by acknowledgement. Application aids such as the “preset on the fly function are additionally supported.
Support from a single source
Benefit from effortless integration and expert support. The interaction of the safety encoder with the safety controller from ifm offers you a reliable, efficient and seamless solution for your requirements.
Preset on the fly
“Preset on the fly” is a helpful function of the safety encoder that allows easy and fast position synchronisation without having to interrupt the running operation. This synchronisation can occur automatically, e.g. based on information from RFID tags installed in the floor. As a result, the position can be dynamically adjusted in the AGV, and inaccuracies, e.g. owing to slip, can be eliminated.
Safety encoder applications
Use cases
Reliable monitoring of autonomous vehicle movements
The safety encoder plays a crucial role in autonomous vehicles such as AGVs or AMRs. For the customer, precise monitoring of the position and speed of such vehicles is vitally important to ensure the safety and efficiency of activities. The safety encoder reliably transmits these values, ensuring precise and efficient vehicle control.
The solution for safe elevating platforms and lift trucks
The safety encoder plays a crucial role in autonomous vehicles such as AGVs or AMRs. For the customer, precise monitoring of the position and speed of such vehicles is vitally important to ensure the safety and efficiency of activities. The safety encoder reliably transmits these values for precise and efficient vehicle control.To ensure safety on elevated platforms and lift trucks, their inclination angles and extended telescopic lengths must be monitored. If angle and length do not match, tip-overs are likely. To minimise this risk, the customer uses the safety encoder on the telescopic joints to control the axis angle. Internal draw wires monitor the extended length of the telescopic arm. This ensures maximum safety and reliability of the lifting equipment.
Precise positioning in the forestry industry
A leading manufacturer of forestry machinery uses the safety encoder on the gear rim of a rotating crane arm to precisely detect the position of the arm. This ensures not only safe but also extremely efficient operation.
Improved machine safety with our safety encoder
Many construction machine manufacturers using ifm’s safety controllers are now adding the safety encoder, for example in order to precisely detect the position of the rotating superstructure of an excavator. Some of these machines always have to stay within a specific operating range, e.g. to avoid hazardous areas. Installing the safety encoder directly on the slewing gear of the superstructure allows precise position detection and significantly improves the safety and efficiency of the mobile machines.
System overview with safety encoder
